Well pump



March 3, 1964 w. P. ORR 3,123,007

- WELL PUMP Filed Oct. 23, 1961 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 REGULATOR a es 5 POWER FLUID v TO CYL.3I

. v k .I I K FROM PUMP63 E ,2 i 39 53 i I T/TO sum 61 FROM CYL.

FIG. 5.

INVENTOR.

WI LLIS P. ORR,

Bangui,

ATTORNEY.

March Filed 001.. 23, 1961 V- POWER FLUID 5 PRODUCTION FLUID 2I -A I I v II a a. n z z 2 2 FIG. 28. 99

I i LI '1 ./,/PRODUCTION OI FLUID 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 POWER FLUID PRODUCTION FLUID INVENTOR.

WILLIS P. ORR,

ATTORNEY,

United States Patent 3,123,007 WELL PUMP Willis P. Orr, Tyler, Tex., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Jersey Production Research Company, Tulsa, Okla, a corporation of Delaware Filed Get. 23, 1961, Ser. No. 146,745 7 Claims. (1. 163-45) This invention relates to well pumps, and more particularly to well pumps employing a reciprocating column of liquid to operate the reciprocating plunger or traveling valve of a pump.

The usual type of well pump requires either a sucker rod or a flowing column of liquid or gas under pressure for actuating the plunger of a reciprocating pump. In recent years it has become increasingly popular to use very small diameter pipe strings both as casing and as flow tubing for oil Wells. For various reasons the conventional types of well pump actuators have been unsatisfactory for use in such well installations.

A number of attempts have been made to devise a pump employing a reciprocating column of liquid to impart a reciprocating movement to a pump plunger. The apparatuses that have been devised in the past for this purpose usually employ a complex combination of flow courses, springs, orifices, and check valves that are far too delicate and critical in operation to find extensive use in oil wells. Furthermore, such devices usually employ a pump of special design as an integral and essential part of the apparatus. Manifestly, it is far more desirable to employ a conventional rod pump of proven design and performance for pumping oil wells. Apparatuses of this general nature are described in the following US. patents: No. 2,747,51lTurner et al., No. 2,180,366 Reichert, and No. l,946,723-Thompson.

The present invention provides an actuator for a well pump of conventional design including a standing valve {housing for insertion in a flow pipe string, a ball type standing valve in the housing, and a ball type traveling valve and a generally tubular housing therefor in the standing valve housing for reciprocating movement therein. While the invention finds particular application with this type of pump, it is to be understood that the invention may be used with other types of pumps employing either a reciprocating plunger or reciprocating barrel. In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, there is provided a tubular pipe string member for connection to the lower end of a power fluid pipe string of smaller outer diameter than the inner diameter of the flow pipe string so as to be suitable for insertion in the flow pipe string. The tubular pipe string housing comprises an outer tubular member and a shorter inner tubular member connected together at the upper ends thereof and coaxially disposed to form an annular piston chamber whereby power fluid may flow through the inner tubular member from the power fluid pipe string. An annular piston is disposed in the piston chamber for reciprocating movement therein. The lower end of the piston extends at least to the lower end of the inner tubular member when the piston is at its uppermost position in the piston chamber. At least one port is provided in the piston at the lower end thereof for power fluid passage between the bore of the inner tubular member and the bore of the outer tubular member under the piston. A connecting rod is aflixed to the lower end of the piston for connection to the reciprocating member of the pump. Sealing means between the outer tubular member and the connecting rod is provided for preventing the escape of power fluid from the power fluid pipe string. By alternately increasing and releasing the pressure of the power fluid, the piston and the connecting rod are caused to reciprocate to actuate the plunger of the well pump.

Patented Itiar. 3, 196

Objects and features of the invention not apparent from the above discussion will become evident upon consideration of the following detailed description thereof when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an oil well installation making use of the invention;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are elevational views, partially in cross section, of the hydraulic pump-actuator shown in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are enlarged cross-sectional views of a two-way valve illustration in FIG. 1 showing the two operating positions thereof; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged plan view of the valve actuator illustrated in FIG. 1.

With reference now to FIG. 1, there is illustrated an oil well installation wherein a well pipe 5 is positioned in a borehole 4 and is bonded to the sides of the borehole by a cement sheath 3 extending from the earths surface 1 to a productive formation 29. As illustrated, the well is of the so-called tubingless completion type wherein a single narrow diameter pipe string serves as both the liner for the borehole and the flow tubing for conducting produced earth fluids to the earths surface. It is manifest, however, that the more conventional type of oil well installation making use of separate casing strings and flow tubing strings may be utilized with the invention. It is assumed that the pipe string 5 has been perforated to open fluid communication between the productive earth formation 29 and the interior of the pipe string, and that other necessary well completion operations have been performed.

The well pipe string is provided with a seating nipple 25 for receiving an insert-type well pump 15. As illustrated, the well pump has a sealing element 27 for isolating the lower end of the pipe string to enable earth fluid production through the pump. A plurality of ports 21 provide for the escape of produced fluids through the upper end of the pump.

A hydraulic actuator 13 is afiixed to the reciprocating member of the pump through connecting rod 19. The hydraulic actuator will be described in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B. The hydraulic actuator is in effect the lower termination of a power fluid pipe string 11 extending from a conventional wellhead 7 at the earths surface to the actuator 13. The wellhead 7 has a connecting member 16 through which the power fluid string 11 extends, and an outlet pipe 12 for connection to a back-pressure regulator 9 through which earth fluids from the flow string are conducted to storage.

One end of a free piston cylinder 31 is connected to the power fluid pipe string 11. A free piston 35 i; disposed in the free piston cylinder for reciprocating movement therein. The purpose of the free piston 35% and cylinder 31 is to isolate a low gravity power fluid in line 11 from a high gravity pumping fluid.

A pump 63, which may be a centrifugal pump having a sump 67, a suction line 65 extending into the liquid 68 in the sump, and a discharge line 53, is connected to the free piston cylinder end 37 through a two-way valve 41 and a connecting line 39. As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the two-way valve comprises a housing 41 for a rotatable cylindrical valve member 42 having curved flow passageways 44 and 46 and straight flow passageway 43 therein. In the position of the valve illustrated in FIG. 3, passageway 48 provides fluid communication between lines 53 and 39 so that pump 63 is hydraulically connected to free piston cylinder 31. in the position of the valve illustrated in FIG. 4, passageway 44 hydraulically connects pump outlet line 53 to a cycle line 51 which conducts fluid back to the sump 67, and passageway 46 hydraulically connects free piston cylinder connecting line 3% to a bleed line 59 for permitting liquid in line 39 to drain into sump 67 as free piston 35 moves to the right, as shown. Pop-off valve 57 is connected between pump out et line 53 and cycle line 51. T-connections 61, 59 in lines 53 and 51, respectively, may be provided for this purpose. The function of the pop-off valve is to permit pump 63 to pump liquid directly into line 51 without going through the two-way valve when the pressure in line 53 exceeds a predetermined pressure to prevent damage to pump 63.

As illustrated more perspicuously in PEG. 5, two-way valve 41 is rotated back and forth between the positions illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 by a valve actuator comprising a housing 47, a continuously rotatable cam 4-5, an electric motor 49, and such reducing gearing in the housing 47 as may be necessary to rotate cam 45 at a desired speed. Motor 49 may be either an A.C. or DC. motor. A D.C. motor is preferable inasmuch as its speed is easily controllable. The cam 45 engages a valve actuating arm 43 connected to rotatable valve member 42. The arm is normally urged to the position illustrated by solid lines in FIG. 5 by a spring 46A and is held in the position by a stop member 44 affixed to housing 41. As the cam 45 rotates counterclockwise as viewed in FlG. 5, it engages arm 43 to rotate it to the bleed position shown by dotted lines corresponding to the valve position illustrated in FIG. 4.

With reference now to FIGS. QA and 2B, the well pump 15 is illustrated as of the conventional insert type comprising a standing valve housing 89, a traveling valve housing 91, annular sealing elements 93 and 95 between the traveling valve housing and the standing valve housing, a ball valve 97 in the traveling valve housing, and a ball valve 99 in the standing valve housing below the reciprocating traveling valve housing. The standing valve housing is provided with an annular sealing element 27 so that the lower portion of the well may be sealed off when the sealing element is inserted in nipple 25 so that fluids may be pumped through the lower end 161 of the standing valve housing, up through the standing valve housing and traveling valve housing, and through the outlet ports 2. The operation of this type of pump is well known and will not be further described herein.

Affixed to the lower end of pipe string 11 so as to be effectively a part of the pipe string 11, is a housing 13 for a hydraulic actuator comprising an outer tubular member 71 and an inner tubular member 73 connected together at the upper ends thereof so as to form a piston cylinder therebetween. The inner cylindrical member 73- is somewhat shorter than the outer member '71. An

annular piston 75 fits around the inner member 73 and is slidable therealong. Annular seals 77 and 79 on piston 75 seal the space between the piston 75 and the inner wall of outer cylindrical member 71, and annular seal 76 on member 73 provides a fluid seal between member 73 and piston 75. The lower extension 83 of piston 75 has a number of ports 81 therein 50 as to provide hydraulic communication between the bore of pipe string 11, inner member 73, and the inner wall of outer cylinder member 71, thus providing hydraulic communication to the underside of piston 75. A connecting rod 19 extends through the lower end of outer member 71 and into the standing valve housing 89 for connection to the plunger or traveling valve housing 91. A closure 85 is provided at the lower end of outer tubular member 71 along with sealing elements 37 so as to prevent escape of power fluid into the annulus around the standing valve housing 89, connecting rod 1?, and outer cylindrical member '71. Vent ports 23 provide pressure relief for piston 75 so that it can move freely up and down in the space between members 71 and 73 without having to work against a back pressure.

The operation of the apparatus as described above is as follows. Assuming that the pump 63 has been started and that the two-way valve is in the position shown in l- FIG. 3, free piston 35 will be pumped to the left as shown in FIG. 1. The liquid in line 11 will exert hydraulic pressure on the underside of piston 75 to move the piston upwardly. After the piston reaches the upper end of its stroke, valve actuator cam 45 will move arm 43 to the bleed position thereof so that the valve is in the position pass into the upper end of the piston cylinder through ports 23. When the produced fluids fill the pipe string 5 and exit therefrom through line 12, the back-pressure regulator 9 will maintain a predetermined back-pressure thereon to assist gravitational forces in forcing piston 75 V downwardly during the down-stroke of the piston and traveling valve housing 91.

It is manifest that the apparatus described above is simple and rugged, can be easily manufactured, and has no fragile or critical operating parts to give trouble operation. A convention type of well pump may be used with the apparatus to further reduce the possibilities of maintenance problems.

The invention is not to be restricted to the specific structural details or arrangement of parts herein set forth, as various modifications thereof may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The objects and features of the invention having been completely described, what I wish to claim is:

1. For use with a well pumping system including a flow pipe string and a standing valve means and reciprocable traveling valve means therein, and a tubular power fluid pipe string of smaller diameter than the flow pipe string for insertion in the flow pipe string, apparatus for reciprocating said traveling valve, comprising:

a terminating member for said power fluid pipe string comprising an outer tubular member and a shorter inner tubular member coaxially disposed and connected together at the upper ends thereof to form an annular piston chamber therebetween whereby power fluid from the power fluid pipe string may be conducted through the inner tubular member, said inner tubular member being open at the lower end thereof;

annular piston means in said piston chamber and around said inner tubular member for reciprocating movement on said inner tubular member, the lower end of said piston means extending to at least the lower end of said inner tubular member-when said piston means is at its uppermost position in said chamber;

at least one port in said piston means at the lower end thereof for fluid passage between the bore of said inner tubular member and the bore of said outer tubular member under said piston means;

a connecting rod for connecting said piston means to said traveling valve, and

sealing means in said outer tubular member for sealing between said outer tubular member and said connecting rod.

2. F or use with a well pumping system including a flow pipe string and a standing valve means and reciprocable traveling valve means therein, and a tubular power fluid pipe string of smaller diameter than the flow pipe string for insertion in the flow pipe string, apparatus for reciprocating said traveling valve, comprising:

a terminating member for said power fluid pipe string comprising an outer tubular member and a shorter inner tubular member coaxially disposed and con nected together at the upper ends thereof to form an annular piston chamber whereby power fluid from the power fluid pipe string may flow through the inner tubular member, said inner tubular member being open at the lower end thereof;

annular piston means in said piston chamber and 6 around said inner tubular member for reciprocating movement on said inner tubular member, the lower end of said piston means extending to at least the lower end of said inner tubular member when said around said inner tubular member for reciprocating 5 piston means is at its uppermost position in said movement on said inner tubular member, the lower chamber; end of said piston means extending to at least the at least one port in said piston means at the lower end lower end of said inner tubular member when said thereof for fluid passage between the bore of said piston means is at its uppermost position in said inner tubular member and the bore of said outer chamber; 10 tubular member under said piston means; at least one port in said piston means at the lower end a connecting rod for connecting said piston means to thereof for fluid passage between the bore of said said traveling valve; inner tubular member and the bore of said outer sealing means in said outer tubular member for sealing tubular member under said piston means; between said outer tubular member and said cona connecting rod for connecting said piston means to necting rod; at least one port in said outer tubular said traveling valve; member near the upper end of said piston chamber sealing means in said outer tubular member for sealing for fluid communication between said piston cham between said outer tubular member and said conher and the annulus between said flow pipe string necting rod; and and said power fluid pipe string; at least one port in said outer tubular member near a hydraulic pump having a sump, a suction line con the upper end of said piston chamber for fluid com nected to said sump, and a discharge line; munication between said piston chamber and the a cycle line for discharging liquid into said sump; annulus between said flow pipe string and said power a bleed line *for discharging liquid into said sump; fluid pipe string. a free piston cylinder having one end connected to said 3. For use with a well pumping system including a flow power fluid pipe string for fluid communication therepipe string and a standing valve means and reciprocating with; traveling valve means therein, apparatus for reciprocating a free piston in said cylinder for separating power fluid said traveling valve means, comprising: in said power fluid pipe string from a source of hya tubular power fluid pipe string of smaller diameter draulic pressure; and

than said flow pipe string for insertion in said flow valve means having a first position whereat said pump pipe string; discharge line is hydraulically connected to the opa terminating member for said power fluid pipe string posite end of said free piston cylinder from said one comprising an outer tubular member and a shorter end, and a second position whereat said pump disinner tubular member coaxially disposed and concharge line is hydraulically connected to said cycle nected together at the upper ends thereof to form an line and said bleed line is connected to said opposite annular piston chamber therebetween whereby power end of said free piston cylinder. fluid from the power fluid pipe string may flow 5. For use withawell pumping system includingaflow through the inner tubular member, said inner tubupipe string and a standing valve means and reciprocating lar member being open at the lower end thereof; traveling valve means therein, apparatus for reciprocating annular piston means in said piston chamber and said traveling valve means, comprising:

around said inner tubular member for reciprocating a tubular power fluid pipe string of smaller diameter movement on said inner tubular member, the lower than said flow pipe string for insertion in said flow end of said piston means extending to at least the pipe string; lower end of said inner tubular member when said a terminating member for said power fluid pipe string piston means is at its uppermost position in said comprising an outer tubular member and a shorter chamber; inner tubular member coaxially disposed and conat least one port in said piston means at the lower end nected together at the upper ends thereof to form an thereof for fluid passage between the bore of said annular piston chamber therebetween whereby power inner tubular member and the bore of said outer fluid from the power fluid pipe string may be contubular member under said piston means; ducted through the inner tubular member, said inner a connecting rod for connecting said piston means to tubular member being open at the lower end thereof; said traveling valve; and annular piston means in said piston chamber and sealing means in said outer tubular member for sealing around said inner tubular member for reciprocating between said outer tubular member and said conmovement on said inner tubular member, the lower neciil'lg Tod and least 0116 Port in said outer tubular end of said piston means extending to at least the member near the upper end of said piston c am lower end of said inner tubular member when said for fiuid communication between said piston chamber pisto means is at its uppermost position in aid and the annulus between said flow pipe string and h b said power fluid pipe string. at least one port in said piston means at the lower end FOI use With p p g y udinga flow 50 thereof for fluid passage between the bore of said P 1 String and a Standing Valve means and r ipr ing inner tubular member and the bore of said outer traveling valve means therein, apparatus for reciprocating tubular member under said piston means; said traveling valve means, comprising: a connecting rod for connecting said piston means to a tubular power fluid pipe string of smaller diameter said traveling valve;

than said flow pipe string for insertion in said flow sealing means in said outer tubular member for sealing pipe string; between said outer tubular member and said cona terminating member for said power fluid pipe string necting rod; at least one port in said outer tubular comprising an outer tubular member and a shorter member near the upper end of said piston chamber inner tubular member coaXiaJly d sposed and conand the annulus between said flow pipe string and nected together at the upper ends thereof to form an id pQWer fluid pipe string; annular piston chamber therebetween whereby power a hydraulic pump having a sump, a suction line confluid from the power fluid pipe string may flow nected to said sump, and adischarge line; through the inner tubular member, said inner tubular a cycle line for discharging liquid into said sump; member being open at the lower end thereof; a bleed line for discharging liquid into said sump; annular piston means in said piston chamber and a free piston cylinder having one end connected to said power fluid pipe string for fluid communication therewith;

a free piston in said cylinder for separating power fluid in said power fluid pipe o ring from a source of hydraulic pressure;

valve means having a first position whereat said pump discharge line is hydraulically connected to the opposite end of said free piston cylinder from said one end, and a second position whereat said pump discharge line is hydraulically connected to said cycle line and said bleed line is connected to said opposite end of said free piston cylinder; and

means connected to said valve means for cyclicly mov ing said valve between said first and second positions thereof.

6. A hydraulic bottorn-hole actuator for actuating the traveling valve of a well pump by means of hydraulic pressure exerted through a power fluid pipe string disposed in a flow tubing pipe string and co-extending therewith from the earths surface, comprising: a terminating member for said power fluid pipe string including a piston chamber member connectable at the upper end thereof to said power fluid pipe string; piston means in said piston chamber member for reciprocating movement therein; a

longitudinal bore in said piston means; passageway means 1 n is pressure exerted through a power fluid pipe string disposed in a flow tubing pipe string and co-extending therewith from the earths surface, comprising: a terminating member for said power fluid pipe string including a piston and the exterior of said piston chamber member; at least 7 one port in the lower portion of said piston means for providing fluid communication between said longitudinal bore and the space in the piston chamber member beneath said piston means; a connecting rod connected to said piston means for connecting said piston means to the traveling valve, and means for effecting a fluid seal between said piston chamber member and said connecting rod beneath said piston means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. FOR USE WITH A WELL PUMPING SYSTEM INCLUDING A FLOW PIPE STRING AND A STANDING VALVE MEANS AND RECIPROCABLE TRAVELING VALVE MEANS THEREIN, AND A TUBULAR POWER FLUID PIPE STRING OF SMALLER DIAMETER THAN THE FLOW PIPE STRING FOR INSERTION IN THE FLOW PIPE STRING, APPARATUS FOR RECIPROCATING SAID TRAVELING VALVE, COMPRISING: A TERMINATING MEMBER FOR SAID POWER FLUID PIPE STRING COMPRISING AN OUTER TUBULAR MEMBER AND A SHORTER INNER TUBULAR MEMBER COAXIALLY DISPOSED AND CONNECTED TOGETHER AT THE UPPER ENDS THEREOF TO FORM AN ANNULAR PISTON CHAMBER THEREBETWEEN WHEREBY POWER FLUID FROM THE POWER FLUID PIPE STRING MAY BE CONDUCTED THROUGH THE INNER TUBULAR MEMBER, SAID INNER TUBULAR MEMBER BEING OPEN AT THE LOWER END THEREOF; ANNULAR PISTON MEANS IN SAID PISTON CHAMBER AND AROUND SAID INNER TUBULAR MEMBER FOR RECIPROCATING MOVEMENT ON SAID INNER TUBULAR MEMBER, THE LOWER END OF SAID PISTON MEANS EXTENDING TO AT LEAST THE LOWER END OF SAID INNER TUBULAR MEMBER WHEN SAID PISTON MEANS IS AT ITS UPPERMOST POSITION IN SAID CHAMBER; AT LEAST ONE PORT IN SAID PISTON MEANS AT THE LOWER END THEREOF FOR FLUID PASSAGE BETWEEN THE BORE OF SAID INNER TUBULAR MEMBER AND THE BORE OF SAID OUTER TUBULAR MEMBER UNDER SAID PISTON MEANS; A CONNECTING ROD FOR CONNECTING SAID PISTON MEANS TO SAID TRAVELING VALVE, AND SEALING MEANS IN SAID OUTER TUBULAR MEMBER FOR SEALING BETWEEN SAID OUTER TUBULAR MEMBER AND SAID CONNECTING ROD. 